I send my deepest condolences and sympathies to the Bangsamoro people on the passing of Bangsamoro Transition Commission Chairman and First Vice President of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Ghazali Jaafar.

Jaafar dedicated his every breath to fighting for peace, even while he was struggling with illness. We remain grateful for the work he has done. He played an important role in the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law and making the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region a possibility in this lifetime. Despite his passing, we are committed to seeing to the continued protection of the right to self-determination of our Moro sisters and brothers.

We will continue to support the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region as it transitions to better governance and democracy. We thank Jaafar for his contribution to the modern reinvention of the Philippine nation and for playing a big part in the reimagining of a future we hope will be maintained by collective peace and genuine development.